Eagles Sign OT Michael Bamiro

OT Michael Bamiro was rated as a mid-round prospect by some draft analysts

The Eagles are expected to sign Stony Brook OT Michael Bamiro on Tuesday. Measuring in at a massive 6’8″, 335, Bamiro is an intriguing prospect who took a unique path to the NFL.

The 22-year-old began his college life at the University of Pittsburgh, where he did not play a down of football. After his freshman year, he transferred to Stony Brook for the 2009 season, which he redshirted. He took over as the team’s starting right tackle in 2010, a role he occupied through the 2012 season. Though he only played three seasons of college football, he exhausted his five years of eligibility. He applied for a waiver to play a sixth season, but the NCAA denied his request. He was not allowed to declare for the NFL’s supplemental draft. Instead, the league declared him a free agent, which allowed him to circumvent the draft process entirely.

He auditioned for at least 22 teams in a private workout in early July. Of them, the Eagles presumably made either the quickest or highest contract offer. NFL draft expert Gil Brandt recently pegged Bamiro as a fourth round talent, so the Eagles acquired a decent talent without giving up a draft pick.

Bamiro has a legitimate shot at cracking the Eagles’ final 53. While Chip Kelly’s front five looks rock solid, the depth along the offensive line is suspect. Bamiro’s main competition for a roster spot includes Nate Menkin, Allen Barbre, and Ed Wang.

Since Bamiro’s jump to the NFL came as a surprise (he had already been named to preseason FCS all-American teams), little film on him is available to the public. I was able to break down two of his games, but only was able to watch him on running plays. Take this scouting report with a grain of salt.

Pros:

Excellent size. Very similar to King Dunlap on the hoof. Good movement skills for his size. Light on his feet, capable of pulling and getting his hands on defenders in space. Can absolutely blow up defenders when he locks on. Ultra-strong and racked up a handful of pancake blocks in 12 minutes of footage. Shows a mean streak on occasion. Long arms and huge hands should help him tremendously in pass protection.

Cons:

Doesn’t always play with a nasty demeanor. Can be content to stand around and watch the play. Plays with inconsistent leverage. Bends at the waist instead of the knees, which hurts his ability to drive defenders backwards in the run game. Versatility. Appears to be strictly a right tackle due to athletic makeup and experience.

Verdict:

Bamiro is in no way a sure thing, but the Eagles could cash in on his potential big time. He has the size and athleticism to be a top-level NFL right tackle. Stony Brook doesn’t play top competition, but Bamiro showed well against Syracuse and definitely has the strength and athleticism to hold his own in the big leagues. He has a clear path to cracking the 53-man roster and the Eagles need more young prospects up front, where Jason Peters, Todd Herremans, and Evan Mathis are all on the wrong side of 30. Give the Eagles credit – Bamiro was a nice find as a low-risk, high-reward signing.